Cymopterus globosus
Globose cymopterus
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Cymopterus globosus (Globose cymopterus) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by fruit shape and oil tube count.
Globose cymopterus is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada in sandy open flats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white or purple flowers in delicate umbels. Growing with a short underground stem and reaching 3 to 20 centimeters tall, it appears glaucous and glabrous. Its leaves are distinctively divided into intricate ternate or 2-pinnately dissected segments, with blades 1 to 7 centimeters long and leaf segments approximately 0.5 to 6 millimeters wide. The fruit is narrowly wedge-shaped, 6 to 11 millimeters long with nearly equal ribs and thin wings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Distinguished by fruit shape and oil tube count.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy open flats
Elevation: 1200-2100 m
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Nevada, Plumas
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Cymopterus globosus blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Lomatium: Cymopterus is stemless and grows flat to ground; Lomatium has an upright stem.; vs Sanicula: Cymopterus has open umbrella clusters and blue-green leaves; Sanicula has dense ball-like heads and green leaves.; vs Vesper: Cymopterus is a low carrot family plant with umbrella clusters; Vesper is unrelated (evening primrose family).; vs Tauschia: Cymopterus is stemless spreading flat; Tauschia has an upright stem.; vs Angelica: Cymopterus is low and stemless; Angelica is tall and erect with a distinct main stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cymopterus globosus native to California?
Yes. Cymopterus globosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cymopterus globosus bloom?
Cymopterus globosus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cymopterus globosus grow?
Cymopterus globosus occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Nevada, Plumas, at elevations of 1200-2100 m.
What plant family does Cymopterus globosus belong to?
Cymopterus globosus is in the Apiaceae family, genus Cymopterus.
Is Cymopterus globosus rare or endangered?
Cymopterus globosus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cymopterus multinervatus — Purple-nerve cymopterus
- Cymopterus panamintensis — Panamint cymopterus
- Cymopterus panamintensis var. acutifolius — Panamint indian parsnip
- Cymopterus panamintensis var. panamintensis — Panamint indian parsnip
- Cymopterus purpurascens — Purple cymopterus
- Cymopterus ripleyi — Ripley's cymopterus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.